The Ti Retail Conference 2025 gathered leaders, partners and innovators from across the consumer goods and retail industry to explore the issues that matter most. Conversations ranged from profitable growth and supply chain resilience to the rise of commerce media, the evolving meaning of shopper value, and the opportunities within independent trade.
This recap brings together the key takeouts and quotes from every session — a practical reference for those who joined us on the day, and a snapshot of the insights shaping the future of South African retail for those who could not.
Welcome & Opening
Janene Laas (Trade Intelligence):
- Set the stage for the day with three key themes: profitable growth, collaboration, and customer centricity.
- Highlighted global influences and local challenges facing the industry: supply chain disruption, economic uncertainty and highly value-conscious shoppers
- At Trade Intelligence, we listen to the stories on the ground, we gather the data, and we bring the trade, their suppliers and service providers together — turning it into actionable insight that enables more profitable, effective partnerships and future growth.
SESSION 1: GEARING TOWARDS PROFITABLE GROWTH
Winning for the Future: Lessons from Leadership
Dave Ramsden (Pick n Pay), Lauren Filen (Advantage Group):
- Growth must be profitable: “sales at margin” not just volume.
- Trust and truth are the foundation of successful retailer-supplier relationships.
- Leaders must listen more, nurture talent, and adapt to customers’ needs.
- Collaboration works best when resources are pooled to serve customers better.
Future-Proofing Supply Chains
Paul Vos (CIPS Southern Africa):
- Challenged the concept of “future-proofing,” advocating for “future-fit” supply chains.
- Efficiency alone has created fragility; adaptability and resilience are now critical.
- Skills, ethics, and collaboration are as important as systems and tech.
- Global disruptions (COVID, unrest, tariffs, shipping changes) prove resilience must be built in.
Future-Forward Retail: Tapping into Global Trends
Lucy Vallender (Smollan Global Knowledge Office):
- Global trends are structural, not temporary: businesses must adapt.
- Discount/value retail is the fastest-growing grocery format globally.
- Shopper experience is emerging as the “final frontier” for differentiation.
- Retailers must harness hyper-connectivity, value, and experience to stay relevant.
FMCG Forecasts: Enabling a Future Focus
Carey Leighton (Trade Intelligence), Kerry Elliot (Trade Intelligence):
- FMCG is complex and dynamic; businesses must build strategies aligned to shopper missions.
- Growth opportunities are emerging in e-commerce, discounters, and health & personal care specialists.
- On-demand delivery (e.g., Shoprite Sixty60) is growing rapidly, reshaping channel dynamics.
- Forecasts underline the importance of channel clarity to identify where to play and how to win.
SESSION 2: INNOVATION THROUGH COLLABORATION
Retail Reimagined: The Power of Retailer and Supplier Collaboration
Moeng Setiloane (Clicks Group), Dylan Piatti (Advantage Group):
- Collaboration is shifting from transactional to strategic and trust-based.
- Retailers with deliberate supplier engagement programmes deliver stronger growth.
- Authenticity and transparency are essential to sustain long-term partnerships.
- Collaboration creates resilience and unlocks innovation across the value chain.
Growing Independent Trade Through Collaboration
Tshego Modise (Ti), Tony Ferreira (Big Save), Prince Nwadeyi (Mustard Finance), Onke Mkiwa (Mustard Finance):
- Independent and township trade is a critical frontier for retail growth.
- Financial partnerships (like Mustard Finance) enable traders to expand with near-perfect repayment rates.
- Empowering entrepreneurs restores dignity and creates community impact.
- Collaboration between wholesalers, financiers, and traders drives both economic and social returns.
Informal Revolution: Digitisation and Innovation in General Trade
Jessica Boonstra (Yebo Fresh), Richard Mamokeane (Yebo Fresh):
- Digitisation is reshaping access to goods in township markets.
- Innovative RTM (route-to-market) models improve efficiency and transparency.
- Technology bridges the gap between suppliers and informal traders.
- Innovation in general trade unlocks both commercial and social value.
Don’t Get Left Behind: How Leading SA Brands Are Activating Commerce Media
Daniel Levy (Flow), Zach Nossel (Woolworths), Mike Bryer (Zapper), Bronwen Oliver (Clarins):
- Commerce media is a growing platform for brand engagement in South Africa.
- Retailers and tech partners are innovating to connect more directly with shoppers.
- Brands must adapt to this shift or risk losing relevance.
- Early adopters are seeing measurable results in awareness and conversion.
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SESSION 3: WINNING THROUGH CUSTOMER CENTRICITY
Community Centricity: From Grassroots to Retail
Alef Meulenberg (Rhiza), Kirsty Aldrich (GMPF):
- Community engagement builds stronger, more resilient retail businesses.
- Grassroots initiatives provide credibility and trust with consumers.
- Brands that invest in social impact gain loyalty and long-term growth.
- Community-centric models align profit with purpose.
Building a Community-Led Business
Andrew Millson (Food Lover’s Market):
- Sustainability and community are at the core of long-term retail success.
- Business models must integrate people and planet, not just profit.
- Local engagement builds both supply resilience and customer loyalty.
- Community-focused strategies differentiate retailers in a competitive market.
Shopper Insights: What Value Means Across Different Channels
Nicola Allen (Trade Intelligence):
- “Value” is understood differently depending on the channel and mission.
- Retailers must adapt to evolving shopper expectations in each format.
- Shopper-centric strategies are vital to stay competitive.
- Insights into what drives shopper choice are key to smarter trade investment.
Why Experience Matters: Retail Is Not What You Think Anymore
Andre Lombaard (Smollan), Refiloe Dikgole (Smollan):
- Shopper experience has become a differentiator in modern retail.
- Experiences, not just transactions, shape loyalty and brand equity.
- Retailers must rethink what “value” means beyond price.
- Field execution and shopper engagement are as critical as product offering.
The Ti Retail Conference 2025 made clear that profitable growth, collaboration, resilience, and customer focus will define the future of South African retail. The conversations captured here reflect both the challenges we face and the opportunities ahead — a reminder that while disruption is inevitable, progress comes when the industry works together.
Trade Intelligence exists to equip retailers, suppliers and service providers with the clarity to make smarter moves in a changing market. If you’d like to discuss how these insights apply to your business — or access the full range of Ti reports and advisory solutions, get in touch with us.